The good news is that Scottsdale, AZ in the spring is lovely and warm. We were there for vacation.

The bad news is that my digestive system stopped working for a while and Dave took me directly from PDX airport to OHSU Emergency upon our return. They are working hard to jump start my digestive system, which had stopped functioning due to Ascites.

Here is a link to information my condition, which is a symptom of my recurrance of ovarian cancer.

Learn more about ascites on wikipedia.

I spent the night and with good drugs and IVs I’m heading on to real food later this morning. My vitals were and continue to be good so this is expected to be a fairly quick turnaround to something more normal.

In any case my next chemo will be this friday. Along with the chemo will be a drug (Avastin) that is known to be particularly good for reducing or eliminating Ascites. Pray for me that it works.

Thank you all for the love and kind words.

About a month back, my clear cell ovarian cancer was officially diagnosed as “recurring”. It took a CAT scan to confirm what I think (in retrospect) I had known since late January.

Since then, it’s been a whirlwind of google research, second opinions and spiritual quandary. It was not supposed to come back.

But it has, and so it is time to write again, to share my reflections on life and to post occasional updates on my health to those of you I love – and who love me.

I’ve had one chemo treatment with Doxil. Another next week. Am switching doctors to Dr. Pejovic up at Oregon Health Sciences University, our local research hospital. She’s a gynecologic oncologist who is curious and passionate and willing to step fully into partnership with us.

We’ll be supported by consultation from Dr. Barbara Goff, head of the ovarian cancer wing of Seattle Comprehensive Cancer Alliance. Dr. Goff’s deep knowledge of current clear cell research will help us with decisions down the road.

I am more than my body. I am more than my cancer. I am a being of love and light, connected energetically with all that is. For several weeks, I attempted to live “with Hope” as my mantra. Didn’t work very well. I think instead I need to live with “allowing”, trusting that the universe is unfolding in exactly the right way at exactly the right time….and that my role in the universe is not yet fully written.